OBJECTIVE:To describe a method of estimating the carbon emissions resulting from 10 clinical canine surgical procedures. STUDY DESIGN:Prospective observational cohort study. ANIMALS:A total of 10 adult client-owned dogs presenting to two private referral centres in the UK for tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) using either isoflurane or sevoflurane for maintenance of anaesthesia. METHODS:Single-use consumables, pharmaceuticals and waste streams were recorded. Volatile anaesthetic use was calculated based on fresh gas flow (FGF) and vaporizer setting. Travel of owners and staff involved in the procedure was recorded (the latter adjusted by procedure length relative to working day). Energy use was calculated based on the clinics monthly usage adjusted for floor area of rooms used. Overnight hospitalisation, kennelling consumables and a revisit for postoperative radiography were excluded. Carbon accounting was performed using published carbon conversion factors ('bottom-up analysis') if available, or conversion factors based on cost ('top-down'). Data are presented as median (range) and totals per emission category. RESULTS:Carbon emissions from all cases amounted to 667.2 kgCO2e. In these two clinics, median carbon emissions from a canine TPLO were 63.5 (47.6-93) kgCO2e, which is equivalent to driving 372 km (231 miles) in an average UK passenger car. Travel accounted for 30.1% of carbon emissions. Volatile anaesthetics accounted for 21.4% of carbon emissions, with other pharmaceuticals accounting for 24.0%. Consumables, building energy and waste disposal accounted for 19.7%, 3.9% and 0.9% of carbon emissions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Likely carbon hotspots for canine orthopaedic procedures include travel and pharmaceuticals, particularly volatile anaesthetic agents. Carbon reductions should focus on reducing travel emissions, streamlining pharmaceutical use and lower-carbon anaesthetic techniques. Future research should focus on improving carbon accounting methodology and widening the range of cases assessed.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the trochlear sulcus depth of three common brachycephalic breeds at risk of medial patellar luxation. Study Design Retrospective blinded clinical study using a previously validated ratio (T/P) of maximal trochlear sulcus depth (T) and maximal patellar craniocaudal thickness (P) measured on computed tomography, to assess trochlear sulcus depth in Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs without clinical patellar luxation. The effect of breed on T/P was assessed using one-way linear regression models. Results The mean T/P was affected by breed (p < 0.001). There was significant difference between Pugs (0.45) and French Bulldogs (0.38) and between Pugs and English Bulldogs (0.4). There was no significant difference between Pugs and previously published data for non-brachycephalic and mixed breed dogs (0.46) (p = 0.39). Mean T/P was significantly reduced in the brachycephalic dog breeds combined compared with the previously published data (p < 0.001). Conclusion The trochlear sulcus varies by breed and was more shallow in French and English Bulldogs than Pugs, hence a shallow sulcus may be a breed-driven characteristic. The three breeds assessed are at risk of patellar luxation but sulcus depth did not directly correlate with previously published risk factors—the contribution of sulcus depth to the aetiopathogenesis of patellar luxation remains unclear. Trochlear recession to achieve patellar coverage of 50% may be excessive considering maximal breed normal depth.

OBJECTIVE To report postoperative complications associated with forkless tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) performed in primary care veterinary practice and to compare results with previous publications. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION Three hundred seventy-four forkless TTAs in 329 dogs performed by six nonspecialist veterinarians. METHODS Medical records of dogs treated with a standard forkless TTA (2013-2016) and with at least 12 months of postoperative follow-up were reviewed. Complications recorded by the referring practice or the operating veterinarian were classified as minor (medically treated) or major (surgically treated). RESULTS Complications occurred in 57 of 374 (15.2%) TTAs; 28 (7.5%) complications were major, and 29 (7.7%) complications were minor. Postliminary meniscal injuries were documented in 12 of 374 (3.2%) TTAs (12/57 major complications) and were more common when the ratio of cage size to bodyweight was ≤0.25 (P = .019). Mean TTA (cage size) was greater in this population than what has been previously reported for a lower median bodyweight. CONCLUSION The incidence of major complications was low and within the range previously reported for TTA in referral practice after adjusting for study design. The magnitude of advancement was greater, and the incidence of postliminary meniscal injury was lower than what has been previously reported, after accounting for dogs that had a preliminary meniscal injury or medial meniscal release. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Forkless TTA may be successfully performed by experienced veterinarians in primary care practice with a low rate of complications. The incidence of postliminary meniscal injury may be reduced by a greater degree of advancement of the tibial tuberosity.